my "boyfriend's" (we were 5) mom had both a roller and a mangle in her laundry room. she was a whiz at both of them. i asked my mom why they called it a "mangle", and she replied, "because that's what it will do to your hand if you get caught in it." mom swore by her dry iron, a sprinkling bottle, and (before they were on the mass market) two large plastic bags she'd made from a heavy duty plastic tablecloth. yep. early 50s. and when she sprinkled, if she couldn't iron right away, the clothes went in the fridge, so they wouldn't mold or mildew. i'm so grateful for wash and wear clothes, and am happy to press quilt fabric. but that "taking it to the cleaners" thing sounds extremely pleasant!